NUCLEAR test victims on Tyneside today branded a court’s decision to deny compensation as a disgrace.

Hundreds of atomic bomb veterans who say their lives were blighted by exposure to radioactive fallout have had their compensation hopes dashed by top judges.

London’s Appeal Court acknowledged the strength of feeling of more than 1,000 ex-service personnel - now mostly in their seventies - who believe they are still paying the price for radiation exposure during the tests in the Pacific and mainland Australia in the 1950s.

But the judges ruled yesterday that the majority of the compensation claims against the Ministry of Defence had been brought to court too late and many veterans’ arguments that the fallout caused a wide range of medical conditions were “not strong”.

The men involved want compensation for illnesses – including cancer, skin defects and fertility problems – which they claim are the result of exposure to radiation.

John Taylor, 72, from Carnegie Close in Biddick Hall, South Shields, was only 20 when he travelled to Maralinga in Australia as an RAF leading aircraftman.

He spent six months in 1957 helping to organise the Antler atom bomb tests and during that time became one of some 12,000 British, Australian and US servicemen who witnessed atomic explosions in the 1950s and 1960s.

Since then experts have estimated one in three of those who were involved in the tests have developed cancer or a range of other health problems. Mr Taylor, a grandfather-of-five, said today: “We’ve all but lost hope of receiving compensation. I think it’s disgraceful. I’m devastated because I know there are those who have already died. It’s not so much about the money, it’s an insult to their memory. We served our countries and this is how we are left. They don’t realise that this will affect generations of our families.

“I’m hoping that we can go through the European Courts, America, Australia and France have already paid out, but our Government has let us down again.”

Of the 10 test cases used to spearhead the costly group action, the Appeal Court’s ruling means only one will now proceed to a full hearing on the merits. The others will all be denied their day in court.

Lady Justice Smith said: “We recognise these decisions will come as a great disappointment to the claimants and their advisers.

“We readily acknowledge the strength of feeling and conviction held by many of the claimants that they have been damaged by the Ministry of Defence in defence of their country.

“We have no doubt it will appear the law is hard on people like these claimants who have given service to their country and may have suffered harm as a result.”

The MoD acknowledged its “debt of gratitude” at the hearing, but denied any negligence.

It has also argued the cases could not proceed because more than 90% of the 114 essential witnesses responsible for the planning and execution of the tests were dead or untraceable.

Men used as guinea pigs

NUCLEAR weapons tests were launched by the UK Government to strengthen its defences in the Cold War.

The veterans from Britain, New Zealand and Fiji claim they were used as guinea pigs during the tests so the Ministry of Defence could study the effects of radiation fallout.

About 25,000 servicemen from the took part in the tests, which started in 1952 on the Montebello Islands off the West Australian coast.

More tests were held at Emu Field and Maralinga in South Australia as well as on Christmas Island and Malden Island in the Pacific Ocean.

The outcome of the British court case is being monitored in Australia as test veterans there prepare to launch action against the Australian Government.

In the 1950s, Australia allowed the British to test nuclear bombs in its desert areas.